1973

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 * 1973-01-03 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / SANTA ANA / SECRET TO THE BLUES / NEW YORK SONG

No other set details known. Two shows, 8.00pm and 10:30pm, double billing, with Springsteen and the boys opening for comedy rock duo Travis Shook & The Club Wow. The opening night of a four-night (eight-show) stand. Bruce was given 70 - 80 minutes performing time at each show. The above partial set details are contained in an obituary of one of the founders and owners of The Main Point, Jeanette O. Campbell. The earliest known performances of both "Santa Ana" and "Secret To The Blues".


 * 1973-01-04 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, 8.00pm and 10:30pm, double billing, with Springsteen and the boys opening for comedy rock duo Travis Shook & The Club Wow. Bruce was given 70 - 80 minutes performing time at each show. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-05 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, 8.00pm and 10:30pm, double billing, with Springsteen and the boys opening for comedy rock duo Travis Shook & The Club Wow. Bruce was given 70 - 80 minutes performing time at each show


 * 1973-01-06 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, 8.00pm and 10:30pm, double billing, with Springsteen and the boys opening for comedy rock duo Travis Shook & The Club Wow. Bruce was given 70 - 80 minutes performing time at each show. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-08 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Opening night of a seven-day (14-show) residency at this famous Jazz-heritage club. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. The first show is Bruce's first known appearance in Massachusetts. Each show encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band. During his August 14, 1992 show in Worcester, Bruce mentions that he played "Growin' Up" during his stand at Paul's Mall.


 * 1973-01-09 - RADIO STATION WBCN-FM, BOSTON, MA**

SATIN DOLL (1.17) / BISHOP DANCED (3.27) / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY (5.02) / SONG FOR ORPHANS (7.30) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (5.32) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (4.50)

Bruce's first-ever radio station performance and still the earliest circulating 'live' material with what would become the E Street Band. The silky-voiced female DJ is the legendary Maxanne Sartori. There are some funny moments in this show particularly when Bruce introduces Clarence as his biological brother. At one point Sartori asks Bruce to perform his mysterious "long-lost hit from the 60s", to which Bruce replies that people will have to come to Paul's Mall to hear it in the “Las Vegas part of the show”. In addition to the band (minus Lopez), co-manager Jim Cretecos, roadie/soundman Albee 'Albany Al' Tellone and CBS rep Ed Hynes are in the broadcast studio, they provide the party-like background vocals on "Blinded By The Light". The last verse of "Wild Billy's Circus Story" features the alternative, early "hear the liar" lyric which would remain in place for the next few months. By the time of the Ahmanson Theatre appearance in May 1973, the lyric will have evolved into the familiar "and the strong man...".

The very good quality circulating audio recorded off the airways is available on the CD 'Bound For Glory'. The CDs 'WBCN Studios 1973' (Great Dane) and 'Acoustic Radio 1973' (Good Ship Funke) are missing nearly all of "Blinded By The Light" as well as the concluding discussions about Bruce's upcoming tour plans. Commercially released in the UK by Left Field Media, also with the title 'Bound For Glory'. This CD includes the April 24 radio broadcast from the Main Point. Allegedly a complete (but poor quality) tape of the show was circulating briefly in the Boston area during the mid-70s, but it seems to have vanished from the tape trading pool.


 * 1973-01-09 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. Each show encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band.


 * 1973-01-10 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

SATIN DOLL / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. Bruce changed the performing structure for the shows on January 10, with the band taking the stage and performing an extended version of “Satin Doll” prior to Bruce coming out to open with “Wild Billy's Circus Story” include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-11 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. Each show encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-12 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. Each show encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-13 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. Each show encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band.


 * 1973-01-14 - PAUL'S MALL, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner David Bromberg. Although Bruce was the undercard, David Bromberg allowed him to perform about 80 minutes at each show. Each show encompassed a couple of solo performances followed by seven or eight songs with the band. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-16 - ST. MARY'S HALL AUDITORIUM THEATRE, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY, VILLANOVA, PA**

No set details known. One show, held in the tiny 150-seat St. Mary's Hall Auditorium Theatre, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. Due to a strike at the time by Villanova's school newspaper 'The Villanovan', this concert went unadvertised and less than 50 people attended, probably the smallest crowd before which Bruce and the band have ever played. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-18 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Paul Winter Consort. Opening night of a four-night (eight-show) residency at the small ~400 capacity club on Long Island. Club manager Michael Epstein had booked Springsteen in November 1972 because the owner of My Father's Place had a son who was married to Mike Appel's sister. Epstein thought Springsteen was a solo folk singer, so he placed Bruce on the bill with Paul Winter's quiet, India-influenced band. There was a small contingent of New Jersey shore area locals who came to the show each night specifically to listen to Springsteen, so the four nights proved to be a clash of musical as well as audience styles, in Epstein's words, "fifty partying Asbury Park hippies dancing on tables and 300 middle-aged suburbanites trying to meditate".


 * 1973-01-19 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Paul Winter Consort. Bruce's shows were limited to about 60 minutes.


 * 1973-01-20 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Paul Winter Consort. Bruce's shows were limited to about 60 minutes. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-21 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Paul Winter Consort. Although many who came to listen to Paul Winter over the course of the four nights complained about Springsteen, My Father’s Place manager Epstein loved what he heard and immediately set about booking Bruce for a mid-'73 headlining stint. Epstein has commented "I was astounded at the magic of Springsteen... Paul Winter never spoke with me again". Immediately following this show the entire band drove to Chicago together in a rented car, with Bruce travelling with the road crew in the equipment van. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-24 - THE QUIET KNIGHT, CHICAGO, IL**

No set details known. Bruce's first ever performance in Illinois. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headlining a cappella group The Persuasions. Bruce's performances during this five-night (five-show) residency were about 60 minutes and for the most part consisted of two opening acoustic numbers followed by four or five songs with his band. This was followed by a 90-minute performance by The Persuasions. The opening of this five-night residency at the 250-seat Quiet Knight was reviewed by Chicago Tribune critic Lynn Van Matre, who only briefly mentions Springsteen but does call him "an engrossing opening act". Although The Persuasions were personally friendly and accommodating to Bruce and the band, this (like the previous week’s residency at My Father’s Place) was a stylistic mismatch that resulted in most of the audience being disgruntled and disinterested in the unknown Springsteen.


 * 1973-01-25 - THE QUIET KNIGHT, CHICAGO, IL**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headlining a cappella group The Persuasions. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-26 - THE QUIET KNIGHT, CHICAGO, IL**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headlining a cappella group The Persuasions.


 * 1973-01-27 - THE QUIET KNIGHT, CHICAGO, IL**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headlining a cappella group The Persuasions. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-28 - THE QUIET KNIGHT, CHICAGO, IL**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headlining a cappella group The Persuasions. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-01-31 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

Early (first) show: MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS (5:15) / BISHOP DANCED (4:08) / (LOVE IS LIKE A) HEAT WAVE - WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY (4:21) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (4:52) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (4:49) / THUNDERCRACK (11:08)

Late (second) show: SAGA OF THE ARCHITECT ANGEL (5:52) / SONG FOR ORPHANS (8:01)

Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner Biff Rose. This was the opening of a six-night (12-show) residency at the club. As undercard Bruce’s performances would have been limited to about 60 minutes per show. Both shows feature an introduction by Max's owner Mickey Ruskin. To start each show Bruce plays two solo numbers before bringing out the band.

By prior arrangement with Mike Appel and Columbia Records, D.I.R. Broadcasting Corp was on hand to gather performance recordings of Bruce for use on its upcoming new syndicated radio program called “King Biscuit Flower Hour”. The DIR Engineers had been in Buffalo two days earlier recording The Mahavishnu Orchestra and the week before that in Dallas recording a Blood Sweat & Tears concert. The King Biscuit Flower Hour used a two-four week delayed broadcast formula and the show made its debut on February 18 and February 19 (date depended on the locale). As it turned out the program that aired featured mostly Blood, Sweat & Tears (major stars at this time). Only one Mahavishnu Orchestra track was broadcast and only one Springsteen song, “Bishop Danced”. This is the recording of “Bishop Danced” that ended up on the official //Tracks// boxed set, although the liner notes mistakenly list the broadcast date as the recording date. "Bishop Danced" was re-broadcast by King Biscuit several times in subsequent years, including part one of the 500th Broadcast Celebration of the program on April 15, 1984. "Mary Queen Of Arkansas" and "Spirit In The Night" were aired a week later in part two. "Spirit In The Night" also formed part of the pre-show broadcast of the Stockholm 1988 concert, but none of the other Springsteen material recorded by them on this night was ever aired, perhaps due to rights issues. In 1980 "Bishop Danced" formed part of a program titled "Rock On The Road (A Million Miles of Rock 'N' Roll)" that was produced by D.I.R. Broadcasting and aired on radio stations across the country on November 7, 8 and 9, depending on the radio station. A memo was distributed to all radio stations by D.I.R. on November 8 issuing an instruction to not air the Springsteen content, which also included the promotional recording of "Prove It All Night" from July 1, 1978 and an excerpt of a radio interview with Dave Herman from the same year. Presumably D.I.R. did not have permission to use Springsteen's material and only realised after the program was aired on November 7. Recordings from this show are often misidentified as coming from solo Springsteen shows at Max's Kansas City in mid-1972.

The above-mentioned setlists are culled from circulating soundboard recordings of both shows from this night. The early show is believed to be complete but the band segment of the second show is missing. The recording of “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” (available on the boot CD 'Deep Down In The Vaults') is often claimed to be from one of the Max's Kansas City shows, but is actually from June 6, 1973 at Philadelphia's Spectrum arena. King Biscuit Flower Hour still retains a master tape of the entire January 31 show in its archives. There are conflicting reports as to whether the company also has any of the band segment of the second show. On their master tape reel "Saga Of The Architect Angel" is mistakenly titled "John Wayne". The company has repeatedly sought (and been declined) permission to commercially release what they have as part of its ongoing archive CD reissue series. Fortunately, we do have the material via the unofficial route. Recently, the show has been made available on Wolfgang's Vault, in much clearer quality than previously known. There are no additional tracks however.

The entire performance from the early show can be found in excellent quality on the CD boot 'Live At Max's Kansas City' (Swingin' Pig). This CD also has the two tracks from the second show but, inexplicably, the recording of "Song For Orphans" is only half complete on this boot. This audio can also be found on CD 'Tallent & Federici' (Vintage Masters). The complete recording of "Song For Orphans" from this show can be either found on the CDs 'The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol 1' or 'The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol 2'. Mike Appel also utilized these recordings of “Bishop Danced” and “Thundercrack” for copyright/publishing purposes. In doing so the long, 11:30 recording of "Thundercrack" was professionally edited to a slicker, more focused 6:50 running time. The song is cut in a couple of places, with the major edit completely eliminating the middle 'comedy break' routine. It is this edited version that was distributed (on tape or acetate) to select industry people during the period. This edited version of "Thundercrack" was one of the earliest booted Springsteen recordings and can be found on the mid-70s LP boot 'Fire On The Fingertips'. Enhanced sound specimens of this long-circulating edited version of "Thundercrack" can be found in more recent times on CD boots 'Forgotten Songs', 'Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol 2' and 'Deep Down In The Vaults' (which falsely credits the performance as January 5, 1974 at Joe's Place). The 2008 CD 'Max's Kansas City Night' (Crystal Cat) has all the above-mentioned songs plus "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" from June 6, 1973 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. One final point of interest, a 1972 studio demo of "Vibes Man" with audience applause crudely dubbed onto it by a 1970s bootlegger often circulates identified as from this show. There is no genuine live performance of "Vibes Man" known.


 * 1973-02-01 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner Biff Rose. In the February 17, 1973 issue of //Billboard// magazine, a review by Jim Melanson included mention of five songs performed at one of the Max's Kansas City shows. These are "Mary Queen Of Arkansas", "The Angel", "Spirit In The Night", "Growin' Up" and "Blinded By The Light". Brucebase has placed this information here, but they could have been played at any of the twelve shows in the stand other than the first two on January 31.


 * 1973-02-02 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Biff Rose. Although long-rumored to have been played during the stint at Paul's Mall in January, the only verified live performance of "Visitation At Fort Horn" stems from a show during this week-long residency at Max's, although the specific night has yet to be determined. During an interview with Charles Cross in 1990, Mike Appel commented on the performance "I was sitting in Max's Kansas City and Bruce decided to do it that night. He used Clarence, Vini and Garry as these 'Sons Of The Pioneers' type singers. I was with this guy from Epic (Records) and he turned to me and said, "I just don't believe this guy. This is the greatest thing I've ever heard".

Unfortunately no audio recording is known.


 * 1973-02-03 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

Two shows. Due to Springsteen’s crowd popularity during the previous few nights the performing schedule was altered for this night and the following two nights, Springsteen and band opened, Biff Rose played next (one show only) and then Springsteen and band played a headliner length second show to close the evening’s festivities.

No known audio. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-02-04 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. As had been the case the previous night the performing schedule was altered, with Springsteen and band opening, Biff Rose playing next (one show only), and then Springsteen playing a headliner length second show to close the evening’s festivities.


 * 1973-02-05 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. As had been the case the previous two nights the performing schedule was altered, with Springsteen and band opening, Biff Rose playing next and then Springsteen playing a headliner length second show to close the evening’s festivities. David Bowie showed up on this final night to see Biff Rose (a friend of Bowie's) and caught Springsteen's performance, although the two weren't introduced to each other. Bowie had never even heard of a guy named ‘Springsteen’ until this night. In a Musician Magazine interview in 1987 Bowie commented on Bruce’s performance on this night: "I hated him as a solo... as soon as the band came on it was like a different person and he was marvellous... I like the //Greetings From Asbury Park// material, my favorite period of Springsteen is the early stuff".

In June 1973 Bowie would be the first artist to record (though not release) a Springsteen composition ("Growin' Up"). Bowie and Bruce would finally be introduced in late 1974 (see the November 25, 1974 listing). include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-02-10 - SUNSHINE IN, ASBURY PARK, NJ**

TOKYO / SANTA ANA

Set details unknown. One show, with Bruce and the boys headlining and Elephant's Memory (John Lennon's occasional backing band) the evening's opener. A contributor to the Greasy Lake website recalls that "Tokyo" and "Santa Ana" were played. If correct, this would be the earliest known date that "Tokyo" was performed, by more than two months. Bruce's farewell appearance at this legendary haunt, the site of so many of his performances during the pre-CBS years. The Sunshine In closed down in 1977 and the location was converted into a parking lot a few years later.


 * 1973-02-11 - BISHOP DOUGHERTY STUDENT CENTER, SETON HALL UNIVERSITY, SOUTH ORANGE, NJ**

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / TWIST AND SHOUT

No other setlist details known. One show, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. Held in the Main Lounge of the Bishop Dougherty Student Center.

Audio of the two songs above is held in private hands and has been offered for sale, but does not circulate. A description of a reel-to-reel tape for sale on Craiglist reads:

//The concert was recorded with a Crown reel to reel 800 series tape recorder on Scotch tape thru a 20 channel Tascam board, coupled with vocals and instruments having their own Sennheiser, Neumann, and Shure microphones. As the story goes two-thirds into the show Bruce's manager saw we were recording the concert and demanded that we STOP recording and erase the tape! We obliged, but accidentally not all was destroyed; two songs Blinded by the Light and Twist and Shout with some Jive talk by Bruce addressed to the audience were not eradicated.// include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-02-14 - NEW GYMNASIUM, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA**

LOST IN THE FLOOD / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.) / MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS (5:12) / FOR YOU (4:58) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (5:02) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / THUNDERCRACK (12:20) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) - FUN, FUN, FUN (12:45)

One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks. Springsteen was allowed to present a headliner-length performance of nearly 90 minutes, and he stole the show from Hicks. The above-mentioned setlist represents Springsteen's entire song presentation from this show in the correct sequence, as sourced from a newspaper review of the show in conjunction with a circulating (but very poor quality) 45-minute audience tape encompassing five of the show’s nine songs. The taper apparently did not record Bruce’s opening three numbers or "Blinded By The Light".

"For You" is the full band version, with an unusual piano introduction. From a historical standpoint the most significant performance, however, is "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)". This the earliest known performance and a unique arrangement that not only features a near-complete rendition of The Beach Boys "Fun, Fun, Fun" sandwiched in the middle, but also incorporates a cosmic story-rap that finds an eight-year-old Springsteen locked in an Alabama jail with Dennis Wilson, James Brown and Wilson Pickett (whose "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)" Bruce covered earlier in the show). The subtle audio edit heard after "Thundercrack" (the end of the main set) and before "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" (the encore) merely eliminates several minutes of cheering as the audience coaxes Bruce and the band back for a final song. Following "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", the emcee can be heard announcing that Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks will follow.


 * 1973-02-16 - BOYLAN GYMNASIUM, MONMOUTH COLLEGE, WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Southern Conspiracy opening. Promoted as the 'Save A Tree Concert', with tickets only $1.00 provided you brought in paper for recycling. Note: This show is sometimes incorrectly listed as having taken place on February 16, 1972.


 * 1973-02-22 - SANTA CLARA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, SAN JOSE, CA**

Cancelled concert, never rescheduled.The gig was advertised in the February 16, 20 and 21 issues of the //Stanford Daily//, Springsteen was third on the bill after Butterfield and blues guitarist and singer Freddie King. It is Albee Tellone's belief that the newspaper adverts were printed by mistake since this show was never on their itinerary. In all likelihood, it was cancelled before the band left New Jersey.


 * 1973-02-24 - CIVIC THEATER, SAN DIEGO, CA**

Cancelled concert, never rescheduled. San Diego was supposed to be the start of a pre-planned, two-week series of west coast gigs featuring the then-unknown Springsteen opening for mid-'60s electric blues legend Paul Butterfield’s new outfit Paul Butterfield's Better Days. Bruce and the band flew out to Los Angeles only to be informed upon arrival that nearly all of the scheduled dates with Butterfield were in the process of being cancelled due to very poor advanced ticket sales. Bruce’s road crew, on the other hand, did not fly out with the band, they drove out to the west coast with all the band’s sound equipment. Greetings Tour sound manager Albee Tellone has commented that the road crew drove directly to San Diego only to learn upon arrival that the gig had been axed. The road crew then drove to LA to meet up with the band. With the Paul Butterfield Tour in tatters, only one show with Butterfield ended up being played (see February 28 listing). Bruce’s agent scurried around and was able to slot him onto the billing of a couple of Blood, Sweat and Tears shows. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-02-26 - THE TROUBADOUR, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA**

MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / LOST IN THE FLOOD / FOR YOU

One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for Pan (a just-formed band headed by former Beau Brummels guitarist/songwriter Ron Elliot). Springsteen's first west coast show. For the occasion Columbia sent out postcard invitations to the gig - click the link above to view one of these cards. This was actually 'hoot night' at the club, but some of the LA music press were present to listen to the much-respected Elliot’s new outfit. A couple of songs into the six-song set Bruce’s guitar amp failed and, because minimal spares had been brought out to the west coast, the road crew were unable to fix it, so Bruce performed most of this show on piano instead of electric guitar. This was the same amp that had been fried at the November 25, 1972 show in Detroit. The four above-mentioned tracks were played but these represent only a partial setlist from this show. Springsteen’s performance received brief (but positive) reviews by Billboard’s Nat Freeland and LA Free Press journalist Peter Jay Philbin. Of the performance the LA Free Press said //"It was Bruce Springsteen who made the crowd collision, the stepped on toes, the smoke-pained eyeballs, the walk away from the TV set all worthwhile...never have I been more impressed with a debuting singer than I was with Bruce Springsteen on Monday night."// Also in the audience to watch Bruce was soul singer Jerry Butler, who was about to begin a six-night stint at the club, starting the following evening.

There is no circulating audio of this show.


 * 1973-02-27 - CIVIC AUDITORIUM, BAKERSFIELD, CA**

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. This gig was to have featured Springsteen opening for headliner Paul Butterfield's Better Days. Cancelled due to weak advanced ticket sales. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-02-28 - MEMORIAL CIVIC AUDITORIUM, STOCKTON, CA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headliner Paul Butterfield's Better Days. A poorly attended show, with less than half the tickets sold, but enough for the show to go ahead. This would turn out to be the only show with Butterfield that actually took place on this west coast mini-tour leg, all others were cancelled. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-01 - CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN JOSE, CA**

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. This gig was to have featured Springsteen opening for headliner Paul Butterfield's Better Days Cancelled due to weak advanced ticket sales. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-02 - BERKELEY COMMUNITY THEATRE, BERKELEY, CA**

LOST IN THE FLOOD (start cut, 4.57) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (4.58) / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY (4.48) / BISHOP DANCED (4.01) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (5.13) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (5.30) / THUNDERCRACK (10.43)

One show, 8.00pm, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliners Blood, Sweat & Tears. Ironically Bill Graham, who'd nearly signed Bruce/Steel Mill three years earlier, organised this concert.

The above-mentioned setlist derives from an excellent quality soundboard recording that began circulating in the mid-1990s. Given Bruce's restricted performing time as the opening act, the circulating audio is likely to represent the complete performance. The circulating audio is missing the opening seconds of "Lost In The Flood" and concludes with a series of announcements. Available on the CDs 'Prodigal Son' (Crystal Cat), 'Before The Flood' (CU) and in improved quality 'On The Road Night' (Crystal Cat).


 * 1973-03-03 - SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SANTA MONICA, CA**

LOST IN THE FLOOD

No more set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliners Blood, Sweat & Tears. Bruce and the boys were allowed to play nearly a headliner-length set at this show. A contributor to the Greasy Lake website notes that "Lost In The Flood" was played solo on piano: "I remember 'Lost In The Flood" because we had just heard on the news at the motel that there was an agreement made at the Paris Peace Talks to end the war in Vietnam that we were all opposed to. Bruce made a specific dedication of "Lost In The Flood" to the guys who made it back from 'Nam."

Following this show Blood, Sweat and Tears flew to Colorado for a three-night residency (March 4 to 6) at a nightclub in Boulder called Tulagi. Although the possibility of Bruce joining them for this residency at Tulagi may have been discussed, it definitely never eventuated. A day or two following this Santa Monica show Bruce and the band flew back to New Jersey, with Bruce’s road crew driving back and arriving a few days later.


 * 1973-03-04 - PARAMOUNT NORTHWEST THEATRE, SEATTLE, WA**

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. This gig was to have featured Springsteen opening for headliner Paul Butterfield's Better Days. Although promotional material has surfaced for this show (see above) it was definitely cancelled due to weak advanced ticket sales.


 * 1973-03-06 - VANCOUVER GARDENS, VANCOUVER, BC**

Cancelled Springsteen performance, although the show went ahead anyway. This was originally scheduled as one show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for Paul Butterfield's Better Days. Singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester replaced Springsteen as the undercard on the bill. A review of the show (see above) notes that Springsteen pulled out of the gig, although it does not give a reason.


 * 1973-03-09 - CELEBRITY THEATRE, PHOENIX, AZ**

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. This gig was to have featured Springsteen opening for headliner Paul Butterfield's Better Days. Cancelled due to weak advanced ticket sales.


 * 1973-03-12 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No setlist details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. This was the opening night of a week-long, seven-show residency at the small, 400 seat Boston club. The performances during this residency at Oliver’s were significant, as not only was this Bruce’s first headlining club residency since Kenny’s Castaways in late 1972 but, unlike Castaways, these were one-show-per-night gigs that enabled Springsteen to stretch out the performances to two hours or longer each night. In addition, there was a fanatical pre-1973 fan base of New Jersey shore region kids living in Boston and attending the city’s many universities, so the Oliver’s shows were sold-out and overflowing with many of the same people every night. Springsteen responded by dramatically altering the setlist each evening and performing new or infrequently played material (both covers and originals). Greetings Tour sound manager Albee Tellone, who rates the March gigs at Oliver’s as among the finest of all the 1973 shows has commented “after the disappointments we encountered on the west coast leg, it was incredible to arrive back and get this amazing reception in Boston. It was a fantastic homecoming, so to speak”.

There is (frustratingly) no known audio from this week.


 * 1973-03-13 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

APACHE / RING OF FIRE

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. The show was about two hours in length, with a short intermission half way through. Two cover songs were introduced into the live repertoire during the Oliver’s residency, the surf instrumental “Apache” and Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire”. Both were only performed sporadically throughout the remainder of 1973. Greetings Tour Sound Manager Albee Tellone comments: “When we got back from the ill-fated California trip Bruce bought himself an Echoplex that he used for guitar effects. I had to set it up for him each night. The reason he started performing “Apache” was because he could reproduce the exact sound of the original record”. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-14 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. The show was about two hours in length, with a short intermission half way through. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-15 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

THE FEVER

One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. The show was about two hours in length, with a short intermission half way through. Greetings Tour sound manager Albee Tellone has confirmed that it was during one of the middle nights of this Oliver’s residency that “The Fever” made its live tour debut (it was performed in a full-band arrangement). Albee has noted that this was not a one-off performance of “The Fever”, it was played at several other gigs during the late March-May, 1973 period, but eventually dropped in favour of new compositions emerging from the second album sessions. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-16 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. The show was about two hours in length, with a short intermission half way through.


 * 1973-03-17 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. The show was about two hours in length, with a short intermission half way through. An interview is conducted backstage with Springsteen following the show in which he mentions incorporating new material into the shows and specifically mentions “Ring Of Fire”, “Apache”, and “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” by name. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-18 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. This final show at Oliver’s was an unusual Sunday early afternoon matinee performance. Following this show Bruce and the tour crew hurriedly make the 80-minute drive south for an undercard evening gig at the University Of Rhode Island. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-03-18 - KEANEY GYMNASIUM, UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, KINGSTON, RI**

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / FOR YOU

One show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headlining '50s nostalgia band Sha-Na-Na. Bruce's first known appearance in Rhode Island. Held in the sold out Keaney Gymnasium. Springsteen's performance lasted 70 minutes. The two above-mentioned tracks (with Bruce on piano on both) are mentioned in a brief newspaper review of the show. This show was scheduled to begin at 8:30pm but was delayed about an hour by the late arrival and set up of the Springsteen camp following an early afternoon show at Oliver's in Boston.


 * 1973-03-23 - PALACE CONCERT THEATRE, PROVIDENCE, RI**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Lou Reed (and his backing band The Tots). Interestingly both artists had gigs the following night in upstate New York (Reed in Buffalo, Springsteen in Niagara).


 * 1973-03-24 - STUDENT CENTER, NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, LEWISTON, NY**

THUNDERCRACK / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) - FUN, FUN, FUN / TWIST AND SHOUT

One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys headlining and local country-rock group Old Salt opening. Held indoors in the 350-seat Student Center. The show was not a sellout, with a reported 300 tickets sold. Given Springsteen was a virtual unknown at the time, this gig at Niagara received an unprecedented amount of pre and post concert press coverage in the school's modest campus newspaper, all articles written by students. The student who orchestrated this event (Kerry McNamara) was obviously a serious Bruce fan. A student reporter even seems to have travelled south to get a brief but fascinating interview with Bruce a couple of weeks before this show. In this interview Bruce mentions he is now playing "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - Fun, Fun, Fun" as a special encore (a tape exists of it from February 14 at VCU). In addition Bruce mentions "Ring Of Fire" and the instrumental "Apache" as two cover songs he's been incorporating into his recent shows. Interestingly it is also revealed that this gig had originally been planned for March 2 but had been rescheduled to March 24 because of the West Coast tour with Paul Butterfield's Better Days.

This seems to have been an intimate, inspired crowd that elicited an equally inspired performance. Bruce even donned his legendary Elvis t-shirt at this show (see photo above), a guarantee of a special evening! After Old Salt opened with a 60-minute set, Springsteen performed a 120-minute show with no intermission, including a triple encore. As reported in the reviews of the show that followed, Bruce opened with two (unnamed in print) acoustic numbers (accompanied by Clarence on the first and Danny on the second) and them brought out the entire band. The final song in the main set was "Thundercrack". The first encore was "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - Fun, Fun, Fun" and the second encore was "Twist And Shout". The title of the third encore is not mentioned. This is the longest verified Band performance up to this point and one of the very few two-hour shows Bruce did in 1973.

A contributor to the Greasy Lake website writes: "The ticket was $1.00 and about 150 - 200 kids showed up but the band played like there were 10,000. Bruce was wearing a newsboy cap and he was all over the place. Thin, full beard, leather jacket and a tee shirt. He exploded right in front of us. I had never seen anything like him or the band. I think they played about three hours. I was physically exhausted and can only imagine how Bruce and the Band felt. I remember some of their early songs and I also remember "Devil with the Blue Dress On". I think they played "Come Together" by the Beatles too. When it was over, we were exhausted. I went to breakfast late that night at a diner and there they were. I said hello, told them how great the show was and made small talk. Bruce could not have been nicer. Clarence too. A few months later they came back to NU and there were probably 1000 people there."

Unfortunately, no audio is circulating from this show.


 * 1973-03-29 - KEYSTONE HALL, KUTZTOWN STATE COLLEGE, KUTZTOWN, PA**

No set details known. One show, triple bill held in the sold out 2,500 seat Keystone Hall as part of the school's 'Black Cultures Weekend'. Bruce and the boys (performing a 60-minute set) opened for headliner Stevie Wonder, who performed a two-hour show. Although not mentioned in pre-concert advertisements, a local group called Surviving Hearts began the evening's festivities with a 45-minute set.


 * 1973-04-01 - THE LEDGE, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ**

Set details unknown. One five-hour, triple bill show, with Bruce and the boys headlining. The undercard bands were Heavy Trucking (first up with a 60-minute set) and Southern Conspiracy (who played an 80-minute set). Although held indoors at the ever-popular Ledge Club, the show was delayed for about an hour due to moisture from rainy weather outside affecting the electrics. According to a newspaper review Bruce opened the show with one acoustic song and immediately brought on the band, and played for over 90 minutes. The review also mentions that the band include tuba and accordion players, which perhaps suggests that "Wild Billy's Circus Story" and "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" were included in the set.


 * 1973-04-07 - NORFOLK SCOPE, NORFOLK, VA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliner The Beach Boys (minus Brian Wilson, who wasn’t touring with the group at the time). As the evening's undercard, Bruce's performance was likely to have been limited to around 70 minutes.


 * 1973-04-11 - OMNI COLISEUM, ATLANTA, GA**

No set details known. Bruce's first ever performance in Georgia. One show, triple billing, with Bruce and the boys opening for The Beach Boys. The poster (see above) has Springsteen billed third but, given the documented artist fee payments for this show, it is almost certain that Mother's Finest opened the show and Springsteen followed. Springsteen's set is likely to have been about 60 minutes. This concert took place at a time when The Beach Boys were at a very low ebb in popularity in America and this show proved a financial disaster for the promoter, as less than 3,000 tickets were sold. The Omni Coliseum held 16,000.


 * 1973-04-13 - VILLANOVA FIELD HOUSE, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY, VILLANOVA, PA**

Cancelled, never rescheduled. This show, which was to be held in the Villanova Field House, was billed as the 'Villanova Senior Concert' and was to feature Springsteen as headliner and Philadelphia locals Daryl Hall & John Oates as the support act. Bruce cancelled at the last minute, with the announcement of the concert's demise made on April 11 in the school's newspaper.


 * 1973-04-18 - GYMNASIUM, CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY, LINCROFT, NJ**

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

No more setlist details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and local horn-based rock outfit Satan's Jury opening. Held in the CBA gymnasium. A contributor to Greasy Lake recalls "Blinded By The Light" was played. Another recalls the following: "Three things I remember about this show... First was hearing him be introduced as "Columbia recording artist Bruce Springsteen" Second was the way he led into "Blinded By The Light" saying "This is the single off our album which has already flopped!" And third, he did what he called a high school fade out, where he and the band actually faded the end of a song live. It was funny and also very well done. He did have his entire band there with him and I believe Tinker did the sound. It was a fun night!" This show included a special guest appearance on congas by Richard Blackwell, a couple of months later Blackwell provided the conga backing on the officially issued studio version of "New York City Serenade". This is one of only two known appearances by Springsteen and the Band at a high school venue (the other was a benefit at Choate School on April 10, 1976). Photographs of the show are in the CBA //Pegasus// 1973 Yearbook.


 * 1973-04-23 - SHABOO, WILLIMANTIC, CT**

Cancelled (due to a scheduling conflict that developed with another gig on the same night), never rescheduled. Originally planned as one show, with Springsteen and the band the sole act on the bill. Shaboo was a small club that catered for students at nearby Eastern Connecticut University. Shaboo’s owner/manager David Foster confirmed in a 2000 interview in the Hartford Courant that Bruce cancelled this appearance as well as a December 16 scheduled appearance. Said Foster, “I would like to say that I had Springsteen at the club, but it just wasn’t to be... but I still have the contracts”. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-04-23 - BUSHNELL MEMORIAL HALL, HARTFORD, CT**

4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)

No other set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headliner Richie Havens. Bruce's first known performance in Connecticut. Springsteen and the boys were able to give an extended 70-80 minute performance even though they were the opener. This gig was originally intended for another night and when the date was moved it forced Springsteen to cancel a scheduled show at the Shaboo club in nearby Willimantic. "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" opened the set - this is the earliest known performance of the song. Brucebase reader Ed was present, and says... "I know Bruce opened with "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)", but the rest of the show is just a blur. No one in the audience had ever heard Bruce before, and the crowd loved him! He ended up doing about 45 minutes of encores, and finally had to leave the stage so Richie Havens could perform. Throughout the Richie Havens show people kept calling for Bruce!"


 * 1973-04-24 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

Early (first) Show: NEW YORK SONG (5.14) / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY (4.58) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (5.02) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (4.30) / SANTA ANA (5.12) / TOKYO (7.03) / THUNDERCRACK (13.23)

Two shows, 8.00pm and 10.00pm, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and folk duo Aztec Two-Step opening. This was Springsteen's first real time concert venue simulcast, courtesy of Philadelphia's WMMR-FM.

Only the early show was broadcast and the above-mentioned setlist represents that complete performance. There is no circulating audio from the late show, which would have lasted 20 - 30 minutes longer. Available in excellent quality on the CDs 'Thundercrack' (Great Dane), 'And The Band Played' (Lobster) and 'Small Town Boy' (Swingin' Pig). Also commercially released as 'Bound For Glory' in the UK by Left Field Media. This CD includes the January 9 radio broadcast from Boston. This show represents the earliest known recordings of "Santa Ana" and "Tokyo". Last known version of "Wild Billy's Circus Story" to include the "hear the liars" lyric.


 * 1973-04-25 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, 8.00pm and 10.00pm, double billing, with Springsteen headlining and folk duo Aztec Two-Step opening.


 * 1973-04-26 - UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT, BRIDGEPORT, CT**

No details known. This is an unconfirmed show - an advertisement in the 'Campus Dates' section of //Billboard// magazine lists this date but it is unknown whether the concert ever took place. It's unlikely - Albee Tellone (roadie at the time) doesn't recall ever playing at the University of Bridgeport. A second date at the University was scheduled for October 19, which was cancelled - instead Springsteen performed at Oliver's in Boston.


 * 1973-04-27 - CONVOCATION CENTER, OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS, OH**

Set details unknown. A fairly impressive nine-artist roster with Bruce and the band receiving near bottom billing. They play early on the first day of this two day music festival held indoors at the school's Convocation Center. The Eagles co-headline. Eagle Don Henley has commented on this show: "I'd first heard about Springsteen from Jackson (Browne), who raved about him. Then we ended up on the same bill as Bruce at a festival out in Ohio. So I sort of wandered in alone and checked out his set. He was just a warm-up act at that this show. After watching him I remember thinking to myself that this was a guy that wasn't gonna be warming up the crowd for us, or for anybody, for very long".


 * 1973-04-28 - CHANCES R, CHAMPAIGN, IL**

Cancelled Springsteen performance, although the show almost certainly went ahead without Bruce. This was originally scheduled as one sixty-minute show starting at 10.30pm, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and local group Zacharia performing both before and after Bruce's set. Show was sponsored by WPGU-FM, the student radio station of the University Of Illinois. The radio station was also scheduled to broadcast Bruce's set live. Chances R was a legendary '60s/'70s rock club on Chester Ave in Champaign that catered for students at the nearby university. This gig had originally been booked as a convenient flow-on from Bruce’s nearby Ohio University gig the previous day. However following this booking Mike Appel was able to get Bruce a performance slot at the infinitely more prestigious Chuck Berry / Jerry Lee Lewis concert in Maryland (see the following listing). It's likely that following the cancellation the show was rescheduled to May 1.


 * 1973-04-28 - COLE FIELD HOUSE, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, MD**

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / THUNDERCRACK

As Chuck Berry's backing band: MAYBELLENE / ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC / SCHOOL DAY (RING! RING! GOES THE BELL) / ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN / NADINE (IS IT YOU?) / NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / MY DING-A-LING / REELIN' AND ROCKIN' / JOHNNY B. GOODE

One show, triple bill, with Chuck Berry headlining, Jerry Lee Lewis second billed and Bruce and the boys opening. A show now steeped in legend. Berry's contract stipulated that it was the promoter's responsibility to supply him with a backing band for this concert. Apparently Bruce learned about a week before the show that the promoter was seeking a group to support Berry and immediately volunteered his band's services for free, which the promoter gladly accepted. There was no rehearsal or soundcheck with Berry, so Bruce and the boys improvised as best they could. The show was Bruce's first known appearance in Maryland.

Bruce and the boys opened their part of the show with a 50-minute set, followed by a 60-minute set by Jerry Lee Lewis and his band. Chuck Berry (with Springsteen's entire band backing him, including Bruce and Southside Johnny) closed the evening's festivities with a 70-minute performance. Springsteen recounts some hilarious details in the 1987 Chuck Berry documentary //Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll//, but does not mention Southside Johnny’s appearance. Fearing that Berry might not want a harp player Bruce positioned Southside in the shadows at the extreme end of the stage. However Berry enjoyed the harp playing and near the end of the show he actually acknowledged Southside to the crowd saying “that white boy can blow, can’t he!"

The above-mentioned setlist represents most, if not all, of the performances from both Springsteen's opening slot and from the Chuck Berry performance. This almost sold out gig in the 15,000 seat Cole Field House was not without some controversy. Such was the demand to see the show that the school newspaper reported that twenty people were arrested when police spotted individuals sneaking into the concert via an open female lavatory window at the back of the building. Apparently 200-300 people made it in before the police caught wind of what was going on.

Sadly there is no known audio of this show.


 * 1973-04-29 - REC HALL, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY PARK, PA**

Cancelled Springsteen performance, although this concert by headliner Frank Zappa & The Mothers took place, as scheduled.

There’s a complicated background story to this cancellation by Bruce. This show was originally supposed to feature Zappa & The Mothers headlining and one of CBS’s hot acts, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, opening. However the Mahavishnu Orchestra (who at the time were taking part in a mini-tour leg opening Zappa’s gigs) had to pull out of this show to play the Columbia Records 'Week To Remember' concert series in Los Angeles (Mahavishnu actually headlined in L.A. on April 29). When Mahavishnu withdrew it appears that Springsteen was initially substituted to open for Zappa. However Springsteen was then, soon after, also put on the itinerary for the 'Week To Remember' series in L.A. (Bruce played as an undercard at the May 1 show). Consequently manager Mike Appel (who notes a Penn State gig in his tour manifest) pulled Bruce out of this gig as well. Zappa & The Mothers ended up playing with no other artist on the bill. All of the above changes took place before any ads for the show were placed or tickets sold, so the public were not aware or expecting any opening act for Zappa at Penn State. As it turned out the Mahavishnu Orchestra was back opening for Zappa at his next show (May 1 at Kent State) and for the remaining block of shows on this sub-leg of Zappa’s tour.


 * 1973-05-01 - CHANCES R, CHAMPAIGN, IL**

Cancelled Springsteen performance, although the show went ahead with Wilderness Road in Springsteen's stead. The concert was sponsored by WPGU-FM, the student radio station of the University Of Illinois. It's likely that this date was scheduled after the April 28 show was cancelled, although the same fate befell tonight's show when Springsteen was signed to play at CBS's 'Week To Remember' concert series in Los Angeles.


 * 1973-05-01 - AHMANSON THEATRE, LOS ANGELES, CA**

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY / TOKYO / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / THUNDERCRACK / TWIST AND SHOUT

Partial setlist known. One show, triple bill, held in the sold out 2,000 seat Ahmanson Theatre, with Springsteen and band opening for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show and headliner New Riders of the Purple Sage. This concert is often confused with the private CBS Sales Convention show (see July 27 for details). However the Ahmanson Theatre show was a normal, public admission event, but incorporating an unusual format. Organized and promoted by CBS as 'A Week To Remember', seven consecutive nightly shows, each show featuring three different CBS artists. Bruce and the band flew to L.A. on April 30, stayed at the Hilton hotel, performed on May 1 and returned east on May 3. Springsteen's set was received well in the May 19, 1973 issue of //Billboard//, which said "If any one artist captured the essence of what the week was really all about it was Bruce Springsteen. [He] has an appeal that borders on the universal. His songs are interesting, thoughtfully worked out and often exciting. Material aside, he has about him that glow, the elusive X factor that spells STAR. Comparisons to Van Morrison and Bob Dylan have been made but he is no carbon, rather a glowing and vibrant performer in his own right".

An audio recording of "Wild Billy's Circus Story" from this show was issued promotionally by CBS on July 7, 1973 as part of its //Playback// EP series, as "Circus Song". Also found on the EP are songs by Albert Hammond, Loudon Wainright III, and Taj Mahal. The remainder of the audio from this show does not circulate, except for the "Spirit In The Night" and "Thundercrack" which accompany their corresponding video recordings. All seven shows in the Ahmanson series were filmed in color by Arnold Levine Productions on behalf of CBS, whose intention was to have material to show to reps at the CBS Sales Convention in July. This happened, Bruce's complete performance was shown several times at the Convention, but has never been shown anywhere since. It remains in CBS's vault. Brief snippets of "Wild Billy's Circus Story" and "Thundercrack" were used in mid-1974 as part of a promo-only video clip created by CBS to promote the second album. This clip readily circulates and, indeed, was shown in the VH-1 Rockumentary. The frustratingly brief film excerpt of Springsteen performing "Spirit In The Night" on piano that was shown in the 1998 //Bruce Springsteen: A Secret History// BBC Documentary is from this show. "Tokyo" was preceded by the Ducky Slattery monologue and at the conclusion of "Thundercrack" a giant Garden State Parkway sign descended from the ceiling, the only time this prop was ever utilized (see photo). "Twist And Shout" was the encore. Three songs from this appearance (“Spirit In The Night”, “Wild Billy's Circus Story” and “Thundercrack”) were officially released as (elaborately restored) bonus footage on the //Wings For Wheels// documentary DVD in 2005. However, "Thundercrack" is incomplete and cuts at just over ten minutes. An hour of raw footage from this show is now among collectors, featuring multiple versions of the three promotional tracks, each shot from a different camera angle. On this video you can also hear a brief snippet of the introduction to "Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?".


 * 1973-05-05 - ALUMNI HALL, PROVIDENCE COLLEGE, PROVIDENCE, RI**

No set details known. One show, double bill, held in the 2,500 seat Alumni Hall, with Springsteen and band headlining and local singer-songwriter John Paul Jones (not Led Zeppelin's bassist) opening. A more than 90-minute performance by Bruce.


 * 1973-05-06 - ALUMNI STADIUM, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST, MA**

No set details known. One show, triple-bill, with Springsteen and band the show opener. Second on the bill was Cold Blood and the headliner was It's A Beautiful Day. Springsteen was a very late replacement for The Elvin Bishop Group, who cancelled the week before. This was an all-afternoon, outdoor extravaganza held in the University's expansive 30,000 seat Alumni Stadium as part of 'Spring Carnival' week. The weather was unseasonably cool, overcast and blustery, so the attendance was only about 18,000, still, it was the biggest venue and one of the largest audiences Bruce played during the 1970s. All three bands played about 90-minute sets. Click the link above to view photographs of the event from the UMass yearbook, as well as press coverage.


 * 1973-05-11 - VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, COLUMBUS, OH**

No set details known. One show with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Richie Havens. Held inside the fairly large Veterans Memorial Auditorium. There were more than a few empty seats at this concert, according to reports. Given Bruce was the gig opener this is likely to have been a 60-75 minute performance.


 * 1973-05-12 - BEHIND THE EAST GYM, NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, LEWISTON, NY**

No set details known. One five-hour quadruple billing outdoor extravaganza, with Springsteen headlining. Support acts (in order of appearance) were acoustic guitarist Alan Brawer, county-rock band Old Salt and singer/songwriter Jimmy Spheeris (who would open for Bruce at Liberty Hall in Houston in 1974). This was a free concert, subsidized by the University, celebrating the closing of the school for summer recess. A 'Twilight' show, held behind the East Gym, with the three undercard acts playing 40 - 70-minute sets and Bruce and the boys finishing under the stars with an 100-minute show. A 'by demand' return engagement following Bruce's memorable gig at Niagara seven weeks earlier (see March 24 listing).


 * 1973-05-16 - MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO, MN**

Cancelled Springsteen performance (due to last-minute studio session commitments), never rescheduled, although this multi-artist, all-day Spring Carnival festival held behind the Centennial Student Union went ahead as planned without the second billed Springsteen.


 * 1973-05-18 - MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, HOUGHTON, MI**

A date at Michigan Tech was advertised in Billboard Magazine during May 1973, but we have no record of a show ever taking place. The assumption is the date was cancelled due to studio session commitments in the same fashion as the show two days previous, but that is unconfirmed at this time. Considering that at the time Bruce and the band were driving to gigs, it seems peculiar to schedule a show so far north. Albee Tellone comments that they'd have to have more than one gig to justify the journey. It's possible that other dates were scheduled in the general area, but were all cancelled.


 * 1973-05-19 - MASONIC TEMPLE THEATRE, DETROIT, MI**

Cancelled Springsteen performance, never rescheduled. Advertised in Billboard magazine.


 * 1973-05-24 - CHILDE HAROLD, WASHINGTON, DC**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Bruce's first ever appearance in Washington, DC. A two-hour performance that involved three 40-minute sets with an intermission between each. A large contingent of longtime Springsteen fans from nearby Richmond came to these shows, catching Childe Harold's management completely by surprise. According to club owner Bill Timberlake there were lines two blocks long each night and he had to go outside and tell people there was no room to fit them. These three shows at Childe Harold are believed to have included the unofficial debut of David Sancious in the band, a situation seemingly corroborated by critic Bob Gould's description of the Childe Harold line-up, which he describes as including both a piano player and an organ player (not including Bruce).. Sancious made his 'formal' debut on June 22. The venue, a cozy, wood-lined saloon that played host to many famous acts, closed in 2007. According to a news article, the owner broiled steaks for Springsteen between sets. For his three nights work, Bruce took home $750.


 * 1973-05-25 - CHILDE HAROLD, WASHINGTON, DC**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Opening act for this show was Liz Meyer (who didn't play on opening night). A two-hour performance by Bruce that involved three 40-minute sets with an intermission between each. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-05-26 - SPORTS ARENA, TOLEDO, OH**

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. Advertised in the May 19, 1973 issue of //Billboard// magazine.


 * 1973-05-26 - CHILDE HAROLD, WASHINGTON, DC**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Opening act for this show was Liz Meyer (who didn't play on opening night). A two-hour performance by Bruce that involved three 40-minute sets with an intermission between each.


 * 1973-05-30 - CUMBERLAND COUNTY MEMORIAL ARENA, FAYETTEVILLE, NC**

No set details known. Bruce's first ever appearance in North Carolina. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headlining band Chicago. This is the first of thirteen consecutive shows in which Springsteen opened for Chicago. Large impersonal auditoriums, a very M.O.R. headlining act whose fans had no affinity with Bruce's music and an inflexible 40-minute performing time allocation - these all combined to make this Chicago mini-tour, in Bruce's words "a soul destroying experience". Mike Appel has stated that Bruce did not open any of the Chicago shows with his usual acoustic spotlight solo, as he'd been doing religiously since the start of the Greetings Tour.


 * 1973-05-31 - ALPHA SOUND STUDIOS, RICHMOND, VA**

SATIN DOLL (1.10) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (4.54) / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY (4.58) / GROWIN’ UP (3.18) / NEW YORK SONG (5.34) / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME (6:39)

Bruce’s second known radio show, but this one is unusual because it took place at Richmond’s Alpha Sound Studios, not at the station itself. It was broadcast live by WGOE-FM via a remote link. In addition to the DJ the small audience heard in the studio included Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Albee Tellone and David Sancious (who had yet to join the band but who was employed at the studio at the time). Albee Tellone has recently commented that he does not believe he was in the audience, but setting up the equipment for the evening show at Richmond Coliseum. The above-mentioned six-song setlist is the complete performance. This performance (which features all the band in cameos except for Vini Lopez) is highlighted by what many consider the definitive available version of “You Mean So Much To Me”. During the show a fan calls into the radio station and requests Bruce’s old Steel Mill chestnut “Resurrection” but Bruce doesn’t play it. Interestingly as Bruce takes his seat to perform a song solo at the piano one of the entourage can be heard saying “Janey?”, apparently thinking Bruce was going to perform the recently composed “Janey Needs A Shooter” to which Bruce replies “no” and instead delivers a fine version of his then-new “New York Song”.

After the show Mike Appel took possession of the master tape, so none of the performance was ever re-broadcast by the station. Fortunately a fan taped the entire show from their radio, although the sound quality was weak. Although this audience audio had been in circulation since the mid-1970s it had never appeared on any mainstream bootleg, exception for the track “You Mean So Much To Me”, which first surfaced on the 1976 vinyl LP boot 'Resurrected' in poor quality. This later appeared in better quality on the CD 'Radio Waves' (Great Dane). The entire fan-recorded version is now available on a custom CDR boot entitled 'Strictly Prohibited'. A low generation copy of the entire original master tape (noted above) first surfaced (in very limited hands) in the early 1990s. Then the recording of the track "You Mean So Much To Me" from this source emerged on the 1998 boot ‘Deep Down In The Vaults' (E Street Records) and in 1999 on ‘Missing Tracks, Vol One' (Thrill Hill). The complete master tape in perfect sound quality finally emerged into the wider collector community in early 2007, and is available on CD 'On The Road Night' (Crystal Cat), tracks 8-13.


 * 1973-05-31 - RICHMOND COLISEUM, RICHMOND, VA**

NEW YORK SONG / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SANTA ANA / SECRET TO THE BLUES / TOKYO / THUNDERCRACK / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)

One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headliners Chicago. The second of thirteen consecutive shows opening for them. The setlist above, sourced from a combination of attendee recollection and an audience recording, has been rearranged into a 'best guess" order, the lack of setlists from around this time makes it hard to be confident of the correct order. A review in the following days //Richmond News Leader// by Barbara Green read "Springsteen is a curious performer. Thin and pale and dressed in black, he looks like a parody of the early Bob Dylan. His voice is undistinguished, though it cannot be ignored in his songs, and his guitar playing is somewhere to the left of center of a bell curve. However, he has enough stage presence to catch one's eye, and his music is distinguished by an unusually good band with a fine rhythmic feeling and bounce and the ability to hold on tight to a song."

The above-mentioned seven-song setlist is culled from a weak quality four-song, 35-minute audience tape of the show that circulates among collectors and the recollection of an attendee. This potentially represents the complete performance, which lasted about 60 minutes. The audio ("Santa Ana", "Secret To The Blues", "Tokyo", and "Thundercrack") appears to capture the last half of Springsteen’s set, before the final encore of "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight). The audio of "Thundercrack" is incomplete, missing the last few minutes. From a historical standpoint the most interesting track here is "Secret To The Blues", one of only two circulating audio performances (and the better of the two).


 * 1973-06-01 - HAMPTON ROADS COLISEUM, HAMPTON, VA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The third of thirteen consecutive shows. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes.


 * 1973-06-02 - RADIO STATION WHFS-FM, BETHESDA, MD**

SATIN DOLL / WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY / NEW YORK SONG / GROWIN' UP / MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS

In-station interview conducted by Donald 'Cerphe' Colwell (a DJ who was one of Bruce’s biggest early supporters) plus Bruce’s third acoustic radio performance, joined by Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons. The above-mentioned five-song setlist is believed to be the complete show. This is Bruce’s last known in-station musical performance until March 9, 1974.

Radio Broadcast (Unbooted & Grethe). The master tape is not circulating but a fan had the foresight to tape the 25-minute show from the radio; various versions circulate ranging from fair to very good quality. Two of the tracks, "New York Song" and "Mary Queen Of Arkansas" can be found as tracks nine and ten on the CD ‘Radio Waves' (Great Dane). The entire audio is available on the custom made CDR boot ‘Strictly Prohibited' and 'We're On The Air' (misses the first 50 seconds) as well as a number of fan made transfers.


 * 1973-06-02 - BALTIMORE CIVIC CENTER, BALTIMORE, MD**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for jazz drummer Billy Cobham and headliners Chicago. The fourth of thirteen consecutive shows. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes. Tickets were $2. Bruce recalled this concert during his next show in Baltimore - over 36 years later in 2009. What stayed in his mind was someone saying, "Hey, man, we didn't come here to see you." To which he replied, "Oh yeah? Well, the next time you do, it's gonna cost you five bucks." A ticket to his show in 2009 cost $98.


 * 1973-06-03 - NEW HAVEN VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM, NEW HAVEN, CT**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for Chicago. The fifth of thirteen consecutive shows. Springsteen’s performance was about 60 minutes and there were scattered boos heard from an audience that clearly weren't interested in any opening act and impatient to see the headliners. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-06-06 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA**

THE E STREET SHUFFLE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)

No other set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The sixth of thirteen consecutive shows. “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” features the same early draft lyrics performed in Richmond on February 14. Bruce changed the words shortly after this date, and all later period live renditions feature the 'official' "mama's reins - little girl tongue" lyrics. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes but, on this night, there are reports he was on and off in 30 minutes, courtesy of a hostile crowd. Brucebase reader Chuck comments: "I was at the June 6 Spectrum concert when he was booed. It was the subject of conversation at two radio stations when I told them the story. I also told them that, when the crowd kept booing, Bruce just kept singing while waving his middle finger back and forth at the crowd. Even though I didn't like him at the concert, I became a big fan later and whenever I told anyone the story of Bruce being booed nobody believed me. I felt extremely embarrassed that night and felt bad for the group on stage. Bruce really did flip and wave the middle finger." Albee Tellone agreed that Bruce was booed at this venue and possibly another, noting that it mainly was from the crowd's impatience with waiting for Chicago to appear.

The above-mentioned studio-mixed live recording of “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” first surfaced on the three-CD set 'Deep Down In The Vaults' (E Street Records), but the source of the recording has long been subject to confusion. The audio characteristics were considered to be similar to recordings from Max's Kansas City in January 1973, so with no other references Brucebase had placed the recording there. However, information obtained from Clinton Heylin's book //The E Street Shuffle// has confirmed the recording actually comes from this date. "The E Street Shuffle" was also committed to tape, however that particular recording never made it into general circulation. These may have served as copyright reference recordings for Laurel Canyon, much the same as the recording of “Thundercrack” from January 31 did. It's obvious the audience is hearing “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” for the very first time, so it's fascinating to listen to the reaction. Given that this early rendition features just five instruments, it lacks the punch that David Sancious’s presence later injected in the arrangement. However this is currently the earliest high quality live recording of the song in circulation and it includes the “chiffon reins - samurai tongue” lines that grace Bruce's 1972 handwritten lyric sheet.


 * 1973-06-07 - ONONDAGA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, SYRACUSE, NY**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for Chicago. The seventh of thirteen consecutive shows. Springsteen was mis-identified in the local press, with the //Syracuse Herald Journal// describing the band as "a five-member combo from New Jersey called Bris Christy." If you have a scan or photo of this article (or any others from this show) please get in touch. The show was also advertised in the Arts section of the //New York Times//. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-06-08 - BOSTON GARDEN, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The eight of thirteen consecutive shows. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes. This report comes from the then-14-year-old Brad, who was present at one of the Boston Garden shows: "I was instantly mesmerized with Springsteen’s performance, but I had no idea who he was. The master of ceremonies introduced them as “The Bruce Springsteen Band,” but it was garbled and I could not clearly hear the "Springsteen" part. At this show, they definitely played "Spirit In the Night" (with the back n’ forth audience participation), and the only other song I clearly remember was "Growin’ Up" when Bruce played solo on piano. They might have played "Thundercrack," too, because it sounded oddly familiar six years later when I was collecting bootlegs, and it was on 'Fire on the Fingertips' and one of the Main Point 1975 boots." "At the Boston Show, he wore a white ruffled tuxedo shirt, black jacket and black pants, ran around the stage like a madman, and mugged with Clarence Clemons throughout the night. To this day, I recall thinking and telling my buddy “If this guy was discovered, he would be an incredibly famous rock star…” That is the absolute truth, but my music friends to this day think I’m trying to boast when I tell them the details of this story. I don’t remember anything about Chicago’s performance – are you surprised?"


 * 1973-06-09 - BOSTON GARDEN, BOSTON, MA**

GROWIN' UP

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The ninth of thirteen consecutive shows. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes. Brucebase reader Richard, who attended, comments: "it was the only unknown act I have ever seen completely steal the show from the main event". include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-06-10 - SPRINGFIELD CIVIC CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, MA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The tenth of thirteen consecutive shows. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-06-13 - BROOME COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA, BINGHAMTON, NY**

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (start cut, 4.11) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (3.35) / PHANTOMS (4.42) / SECRET TO THE BLUES (edits, 7.05) / TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (0.44) / SEASIDE BAR SONG (3.04) / THUNDERCRACK (cut, 4.02)

One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The eleventh of thirteen consecutive shows and the first concert at the new Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The above-mentioned seven-song, 45-minute setlist almost certainly represents Bruce's complete show, bearing in mind the strict time limit Bruce was under for these Chicago shows. The show includes a brief (but unique) rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", as well as "Phantoms" (aka 'Over The Hills Of Saint George"), the work-in-progress composition that soon became "Zero And Blind Terry".

Audience tape. This performance available via a good quality audience recording of forty minutes duration. The set closer, "Thundercrack", is not complete; "Secret To The Blues" and "Spirit In The Night" are marred by minor edits. Previously only available in poor quality, a new transfer emerged in March 2013 from the JEMS Archive. The fidelity of this tape is a material upgrade over all previous copies and is well worth acquiring.


 * 1973-06-14 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / LOST IN THE FLOOD / THUNDERCRACK

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headliner Chicago. The twelfth of thirteen consecutive shows and Bruce's first appearance at Madison Square Garden. Both artists’ entire performance on this night were professionally videotaped and shown real time on the large screen above/behind the stage, although none of this footage has ever surfaced to collectors. It’s unknown if this video still survives in Springsteen’s archives. Springsteen performed an extra encore at this show, so the performance was over an hour. According to comments by drummer Vini Lopez (who noted the filming of this show) the promoter was upset the band played longer than its allotted time and so the following night the crew only filmed headliner Chicago’s set, not the Springsteen performance. A contributor to the Greasy Lake website recalls the above songs were performed, with "Thundercrack" as the set closer. While roadie Albee Tellone did not recall the filming, he speculated that Mike Appel never was allowed access to the video. It's doubtful if Bruce wanted a copy. By this time, according to Albee, Bruce was thoroughly tired of playing on the tour and couldn't wait for it to end.


 * 1973-06-15 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliners Chicago. The last of thirteen consecutive shows. Bruce's performance was almost certainly restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes. After the show a dispirited (perhaps overly so) Springsteen tells Mike Appel he doesn't want to play big auditoriums again. He stands his ground on the matter for three years.


 * 1973-06-17 - WATERFORD PARK RACETRACK, CHESTER, WV**

No details known. This date was advertised in the upcoming events section of //Billboard// magazine, June 9, 1973. It is unknown whether the show even took place. Albee Tellone says that Springsteen never played in West Virginia while he was driving the band's equipment, so it's likely this show was cancelled. Albee also said that the band needed a rest after the Chicago tour and had to get back into the studio to work on //The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle//, which had some basic tracks already recorded. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-06-22 - FAT CITY, SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ**

634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

No other set details known. One show, with a New Jersey band called "Mofo" as opening act. This was David Sancious's official debut as a member of the band, although he had performed in the band at a few gigs since late May. The two songs listed above were mentioned in an article about Springsteen in the November 4, 1974 issue of //The Heights//, student newspaper of Boston College. The author does not note which of the Fat City shows he saw. Click the date/location link above to read the article.


 * 1973-06-23 - FAT CITY, SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with a New Jersey band called "Mofo" as opening act.


 * 1973-06-24 - FAT CITY, SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with a New Jersey band called "Mofo" as opening act.


 * 1973-07-05 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. This was opening night of a five-night (nine-show) residency at the club.The undercard was acoustic guitarist Trevor Veitch (perhaps best known as the lead guitarist in Tom Rush's backing band in the early 1970s). Veitch appeared with former Tom Rush bassist David Broderick.


 * 1973-07-06 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Opening act was acoustic guitarist Trevor Veitch.


 * 1973-07-07 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Opening act was acoustic guitarist Trevor Veitch. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-07-08 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Opening act was acoustic guitarist Trevor Veitch. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-07-09 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Opening act was acoustic guitarist Trevor Veitch. Following this show Bruce and the band spend the next ten days at 914 Sound Studios recording material for the second album.


 * 1973-07-18 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

Early (first) show: WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY / GROWIN' UP / SOMETHING YOU GOT

Late (second) show: SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / (GET YOUR KICKS ON) ROUTE 66

Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen headlining and The Wailers (led by Bob Marley) opening. This was the start of a six-night (12-show) residency. It was also The Wailers first-ever U.S.A. tour, which had started the week before with a six-night (12-show) headlining stint in Boston at Paul’s Mall. The above-mentioned very partial setlist from Springsteen's early show is culled from a review by Michael Gross (not the actor) in //Miscellany News//, the student newspaper of Vassar College. Gross only states that he attended the opening night of Springsteen's residence, so the songs he mentioned in his review could have been from the late show. "Something You Got" is noted as the final song of the set. Meanwhile, the late show setlist is culled from a critique by Steve Simels in //Stereo Review//, who mentioned that Bruce opened with "Spirit In The Night" and performed "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" as the result of his own shouted request from the audience. There is no known audio from either show. A Wailers-centric review of the show was printed in the September 1 issue of //Billboard//. Brucebase has placed a reproduction here, but the subject of the review could be any of the twelve shows that Springsteen and The Wailers played in this stand. In November 1976 it was reported in //New Musical Express// that Springsteen and the Wailers had signed a deal to co-headline a 40-city U.S. tour that was due to start in mid-April 1977, with the two acts alternating as headliners. A spokeman at the time suggested that British and European dates would follow in the summer of 1977.

An audience recording of The Wailer's first show has circulated for many years. The Wailers' setlist for this early show was as follows: "Put It On", "Slave Driver", "Burnin' And Lootin'", "Stop That Train", "Kinky Reggae", and "Stir It Up". Bruce did not play during their set. The original taper seems to have had decent equipment and a choice recording spot. Previous information suggested that a circulating fifty minute audience recording of a Springsteen set at Max's Kansas City was from this date, in fact the recording is sourced from the early show on July 23, at the end of the stand. Despite similar audio characteristics these two recordings were made by different tapers on different nights. The Wailer's recording is the only audio of an undercard of a Springsteen show of the post-1971 era that has ever surfaced and it could not be a more significant one. It has apparently been known by hard core Marley collectors for years but has only come to the attention of Springsteen collectors recently. It is available on private CDR via Marley/Wailers collector sources. The Wailers segment of audio runs about 38 minutes (including between song tuning). This is not the complete show but it probably represents most of the gig, bearing in mind this was the early show on a two show, two artist bill. Albee Tellone reported that the "early" shows were always shorter to turn over the crowd and allow the many people waiting in line for the late shows, which ran right up until the legal operating hours.


 * 1973-07-19 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY / ZERO AND BLIND TERRY

Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and The Wailers (lineup including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) opening. One of the shows on this run was played almost exclusively to record executives and invited journalists. A review of this show was written for //Village Voice// by Lorraine O'Grady but went unpublished at the time as the editor did not believe either Springsteen or Marley would make it. The article has since been published in Steven Kasher's history of Max's Kansas City. The songs listed above were not necessarily played on this exact date. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-07-20 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

KITTY'S BACK

No other set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and The Wailers (lineup including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) opening. Albee Tellone remembered that the Wailers were: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Joe Higgs (vocals, percussion), Earl Lindo (keyboards), Aston "Family Man" Barrett (bass) and his brother Carlton Barrett on drums. Albee was told by the Wailers manager that they sent singer/percussionist Bunny Wailer back to Jamaica after their performances in the UK prior to the USA tour.

A good quality soundboard recording of "Kitty's Back" from around this date is in circulation. Slight variations in the lyrics compared to later performances suggest it is an early recording, and a reference to Basin Street (instead of Bleecker Street) in the second verse indicates it may be from Max's Kansas City. Basin Street East was a famous nightclub in New York City, located just a few blocks from Max's. We've placed the song here, but it could be from any of the shows in the stand.


 * 1973-07-21 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and The Wailers (lineup including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) opening. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-07-22 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

Early Show: NEW YORK CITY SERENADE

No other set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and The Wailers (lineup including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) opening. An attendee notes that the early show set opened with "New York City Serenade". The club was almost empty, with just eight lucky observers! One of whom kept shouting for "Lost In The Flood" which was not played, much to his frustration. The attendee says he wasn't a particular big Springsteen fan, but was blown away by the performance. So much so he stayed for the late show, and returned the next day with his tape recorder - see the listing below.

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 * 1973-07-23 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

Early (first) show: NEW YORK CITY SERENADE (8:11) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (6:46) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (4:57) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (4:09) / SOMETHING YOU GOT (6:41) / ZERO AND BLIND TERRY (6:08) / THUNDERCRACK (edited, 11:27)

Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and The Wailers (line-up including Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) opening. Final night. The above-mentioned setlist details for the early show are culled from an 50-minute audience recording of very good sound quality that has been in circulation (with widely varying levels of completeness) for over 25 years. This recording has historically been attributed to July 18, 1973, but it's actually from this night.

The taper (George) takes up the story and writes down this piece of Bruce History: //"I decided to borrow my mom's portable Sony stereo cassette recorder to tape the show. I also (unfortunately) brought only one cassette - A TDK C-90SD (which I still have to this day). I made sure that the batteries were fresh and I was ready to document the event. The mic was a stereo mic so my goal was to sit in the middle of the room. I didn't think that this would be a problem since, as I said, there was literally no one in the club the night before. I figured that I would pay for my own ticket for the Monday night show and didn't even bother to call my friend at Columbia and get my name on the list again.//

//"The club was upstairs from the main Max's room and when we get to the club and climbed the stairs I was shocked to see that the club was full of people. I thought to myself "where the hell did all of these people come from" started worrying that it may be sold out and we may not get in. The guy at the door told us that he could seat the three of us but that we were going to have to sit in the front row!//

//"He led us to the front and sat is in the center seats (my seat was about three feet in front of the center stage mic). My mind was racing like crazy. Because of the placement of the PA speakers (they were hung right above the stage angled slightly down) the "vocal" sound was not going to be the best sitting that close to the stage (the "prime" spot for a good vocal sound would have been 5 rows back). I also was freaking because I didn't know what I was going to do with the mic. It wouldn't be very discreet of me if I held the mic up in front of me since (as I said) the mic stand was right in front of me and Bruce would plainly see that I was taping him! I should have brought a second cassette to tape Marley but, alas, I didn't. I didn't want to risk running out of tape by recording the Marley/Wailers set on my lone cassette so I (regretfully) didn't and saved the tape for Springsteen.//

//"Sitting that close to Marley was an experience like none other I have experienced before or since. I received a one-on-one lesson in reggae from the master himself! I'm sure it was helped by the constant thick smoke coming off the stage directly into my face! I will also never forget that at one point in Bob's set he shook his hair and his perspiration flew all over me. Some might say that was my reggae baptism. I was pretty blitzed by the end of his set and totally ready for Bruce.//

//"I tried to "hide" the mic by holding it near my crotch rather than shoving it right in front of Bruce's face. Another regret that I have is that I didn't let the recording go on uninterrupted. I would have normally not stopped the tape after each song. Since the recorder and mic had been originally designed for office dictation, the mic had an on/off switch which stopped the recorder but left it in the record mode. This created a "wowing" effect at the turn off and turn on points of the recording (note: this is why the circulating recordings are cut at the start and finish so severely). I didn't know how long BS would play and I, as I said, I was in an altered state, so I worried that that one C90 tape was not going to be enough to get the entire show. Given the eventual length of the set it was an unwarranted fear but at that moment I was not thinking clearly.//

//"The show was, again, amazing. Bruce worked the full room to the fullest and was funny, animated, charismatic and even better that the night before. The set (as captured on my tape) was New York City Serenade / Sandy / Spirit In The Night / Does This Bus Stop At 82nd St / Something You Got / Zero And Blind Terry / Thundercrack. My friends were knocked out and became life-long fans. I was convinced that I had seen the greatest performer that had ever existed and, like any true convert, began spreading the word to anyone who would listen to me.//

Among the people over the years who have mentioned that they attended at least one of the Springsteen / Wailers performances during this residency are Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Garland Jeffreys and Steven Van Zandt. Albee Tellone recalled talking to Todd Rundgren standing in line. He bumped Todd and his girlfriend ahead of the line and gave them a table because he was "a guy from New Jersey". Harry Chapin was there the same night and had a short conversation with Rundgren before Albee whisked him through.

All seven of the known Springsteen songs from this early show can be found as tracks 6-12 on the CD 'The Unsurpassed Springsteen, Vol 2' (Yellow Dog). However these seven songs had an unfortunate, notoriously confusing tape-boot appearance history prior to their appearance of this CD. The seven songs have tended to be cannibalised, re-sequenced and/or misidentified as emanating for a variety of different shows. For example, all the songs except “Thundercrack” and “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” are found on the 'All Those Years' boxed set, but they’re re-sequenced. The two songs not found on 'All Those Years' (“Thundercrack” and “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?”) have tended to turn up identified as emanating from all kinds of sources and often listed as a soundboard (which they are not). For example, the alleged previously uncirculating soundboard performance of “Thundercrack” found on a radio station cassette tape and subsequently auctioned by Backstreets Magazine several years ago has turned out to be nothing more than this same audience source recording. Since it is “Thundercrack” that most often circulates misidentified, it should be noted that the original taper appears to have made a decision to edit “Thundercrack” (the mid-song band introductions of Lopez and Clemons are heard but Bruce’s introductions of Sancious, Federici and Tallent have been cut completely unintentionally making it easy to identify this recording). Unedited audio of this performance of “Thundercrack” has never turned up.


 * 1973-07-27 - FAIRMONT HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA**

4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / ZERO AND BLIND TERRY / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / THUNDERCRACK

One show, with Springsteen and the boys performing along with numerous other artists as part of the CBS Sales Convention, a three-day, private corporate function that was not open to the public. Artists were not paid except for travel expenses. The above-mentioned setlist represents Springsteen's complete performance. Bruce, who had to be pressured to attend this event, had the misfortune to follow Edgar Winter's White Trash, who performed a visually spectacular 15-minute set complete with fireworks and smoke bombs which the partying CBS reps loved. Bruce's performance, on the other hand, was low key and without props. "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" was performed acoustically and "Thundercrack" included the lengthy comedy middle section. Artists were supposed to play only two or three songs and be finished in 15 minutes. Consequently Springsteen's 40-minute set upset some in the audience, who felt he was grandstanding. Even John Hammond later commented "Bruce came onstage with a chip on his shoulder and played way too long".

This private CBS function is often confused with the May 1 Ahmanson Theatre show in Los Angeles (a normal public concert). The CBS-financed promotional film of Bruce's performance at Ahmanson Theatre was shown in its entirety at this Convention.

There is no circulating audio from this show.


 * 1973-07-31 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

Late (second) show: 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (7.35) / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE (8.40) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (5.16) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (4.14) / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY (cut, 3.14) / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME (7.46) / THUNDERCRACK (13.32)

Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Nashville-based country singer-songwriter Alex Harvey on the undercard. Opening of a sellout, three-night (six-show) residency. Bruce’s second show of this evening was broadcast live on WLIR-FM as part of its weekly Tuesday evening simulcast from the venue. The orchestral violin/string sounds heard during ‘New York City Serenade’ were produced by using a rented Mellotron (unlike the real strings on the album version). Albee Tellone recalls that the Mellotron became a regular resident of his equipment van. It was brought to 914 Studio many times during the recording of //The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle//, but four local music teachers were hired to play the string arrangement which was conducted by David Sancious.

The above-noted setlist represents the circulating audio from this show. This very good quality audio was taped off the airways and represents the entire broadcast, although the performance almost certainly included two to four additional songs that never went to air due to time limitations. Available on the CD ‘My Father's Place' (Great Dane) and in better quality on the CD ‘Jacksonville & My Father's Place'. The show has recently circulated from the radio station master tape which is worth seeking out.


 * 1973-08-01 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Nashville-based country singer-songwriter Alex Harvey opening.


 * 1973-08-02 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Nashville-based country singer-songwriter Alex Harvey opening.


 * 1973-08-04 - CONVENTION HALL, ASBURY PARK, NJ**

Cancelled Springsteen performance (due to studio session commitments), never rescheduled. Originally planned as two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for headlining comedy duo Cheech & Chong. Springsteen pulled out of the gig in June, although not before some initial promotion took place (see above). The show went ahead anyway, with Muddy Waters substituted in place of Bruce.


 * 1973-08-14 - UNCLE AL'S ERLTON THEATRE LOUNGE, CHERRY HILL, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and the boys the sole act on the bill. This was a more than two hour performance that consisted of three 40-minute sets with a healthy intermission between each.


 * 1973-08-16 - MR. D'S, EAST PATERSON, NJ**

Cancelled Springsteen show (due to recording studio commitments) never rescheduled. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-08-20 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. This seven-day (seven-show) residency had originally been slated for July 9 to 15 (see photo of the early promotion). However studio session requirements for the second album forced the residency to be shifted to August 20 to 26. All seven shows during this residency were approximately two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission).


 * 1973-08-21 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Performance was about two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission). include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-08-22 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Performance was about two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission). //Boston Globe// music critic Neal Vitale attended this show and provided a glowing review, although no song titles were mentioned.


 * 1973-08-23 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Performance was about two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission). include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-08-24 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Performance was about two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission). include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-08-25 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Performance was about two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission). include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-08-26 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Performance was about two hours (two 60-minute sets separated by an intermission).


 * 1973-08-31 - FAT CITY, SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and the boys the sole act on the bill.


 * 1973-09-01 - FAT CITY, SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and the boys the sole act on the bill. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-09-02 - FAT CITY, SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and the boys the sole act on the bill. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-09-06 - DEAN COLLEGE, FRANKLIN, MA**

No set details known. One show, held as part of the school's 'Orientation Weekend' for new arrivals. Bruce and the band headline. Bruce opens the show with a couple of solo acoustic numbers before bringing on the band.


 * 1973-09-08 - FLAGSTAFF HILL, SCHENLEY PARK, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, PITTSBURGH, PA**

DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / THE E STREET SHUFFLE / GROWIN' UP / MAMA DON'T ALLOW NO GUITAR PICKING

One afternoon show, triple bill, with Springsteen and band playing between Estus and the headliner Buzzy Linhart. The setlist above would seem to consist of the complete performance, and is supplied by a visitor to the Killing Floor website and is unverified, but plausible. "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Picking" is a traditional bluegrass song first recorded in the 1920s but is probably based on earlier songs including "Mr. Crump Don't Allow No Easy Riders" (from 1907) and "Mama Don't Allow No Low Down Hangin' Around"). Also known under other titles including "Mama Don't Allow" and "Mama Don't Allow No Guitar Playing Around Here". It has been covered by artists such as Papa Charlie Jackson (1925), The Rivieras (1964), and J.J. Cale (1981). Although intended as a social event for students returning from summer vacation, this was a free concert that was open to the general public. Sponsored by the University’s Penn Program Council and held outdoors on the lawn of the Flagstaff Hill section of Schenley Park (next to the Botanical Gardens). The event was covered in //The Pitt News//, but sadly the reporter does not offer any details about Springsteen's set. Albee recently noted that there were not a lot of people in attendance but it was a great show.

There is no known audio.


 * 1973-09-09 - REC HALL, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY PARK, PA**

Cancelled Springsteen performance, although the concert went ahead anyway. This was originally scheduled to be one show, double bill, with Bruce and band opening for headliner New Riders Of The Purple Sage. However Springsteen pulled out of the gig and the New Riders ended up headlining without an opening act. The Springsteen withdrawal was prior to any public announcement or promotion for the show, so the attendees were not aware an opening act had been planned anyway. This was the first of a series of several Springsteen gigs that were cancelled, apparently because final mixing of the second album, and its promised delivery to Columbia, had fallen behind schedule and additional studio time was needed to finish the album.


 * 1973-09-14 - JABBERWOCKY CLUB, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, SYRACUSE, NY**

Cancelled (due to delays with the final mixing of the second album), never rescheduled. This gig was to have taken place in the school’s legendary Jabberwocky Club. Planned as two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and singer/pianist Diane Markovich as the opener.


 * 1973-09-15 - JABBERWOCKY CLUB, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, SYRACUSE, NY**

Cancelled (due to delays with the final mixing of the second album), never rescheduled. This gig was to have taken place in the school’s legendary Jabberwocky Club. Planned as two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and singer/pianist Diane Markovich as the opener. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-09-16 - JABBERWOCKY CLUB, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, SYRACUSE, NY**

Cancelled (due to delays with the final mixing of the second album), never rescheduled. This gig was to have taken place in the school’s legendary Jabberwocky Club. Planned as two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and singer/pianist Diane Markovich as the opener. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-09-22 - JAI ALAI FRONTON, MIAMI, FL**

Cancelled concert, never rescheduled due to extended mixing sessions for the second album, //The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle//. Concert is triple-billed, with Springsteen intended to follow the Julian Strut Band, and Richie Havens rounding off the bill. After pulling out two days before the show Springsteen is replaced by Wet Willie. The Julian Strut Band dropped out shortly after the publicity was printed and were not replaced.

Start of "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" tour code September 28, 1973 - March 9, 1975

THE E STREET BAND Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica) Clarence Clemons (tenor, baritone, and soprano saxophones, backing vocals, percussion) Danny Federici (organ, accordion, glockenspiel, piano) Garry Tallent (bass, percussion) Vini Lopez (drums) (to February 12, 1974) David Sancious (piano, organ) (to August 14, 1974) Ernest "Boom" Carter (drums) (from February 23, 1974 - August 14, 1974) Roy Bittan (piano, keyboards) (from September 19, 1974) Max Weinberg (drums) (from September 19, 1974) Suki Lahav (violin, backing vocals) (from October 4, 1974) code


 * 1973-09-28 - HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE, HAMPDEN SYDNEY, VA**

THE E STREET SHUFFLE (with Albee Tellone)

One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. This was the first night back on tour after the three-week hiatus required to complete the //Wild & Innocent// album. This is also considered to be the first show of the Wild & Innocent Tour, however the concept of a tour to support the album is very much a modern construct. The band were touring constantly, and would continue to do so until March 1975. There was very little promotion or press. This show also marked the live debut of "The E Street Shuffle", as well as the first-ever guest slot in the lineup by Albee ("Albany Al") Tellone on baritone sax. Tellone, who had been a member of Bruce’s band during the 1971 Friendly Enemies/Dr Zoom period, had been working as the Greetings Tour sound manager since November 1972. Tellone would end making stage appearances in the band (but only during gigs where “The E Street Shuffle” was played) from this night up until mid-December 1973, when Albee left the tour to start his own band.


 * 1973-09-29 - WAYNESBURG COLLEGE, WAYNESBURG, PA**

No set details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the lone act on the bill. Last minute difficulties with the College-supplied grand piano caused a delay to the start of the concert. Albee Tellone recalled that a professional piano tuner was finishing up as he and partner Jeff Hall set up the band for a sound check. "When the sound check started, we knew immediately that something was wrong". Danny Federici figured out that the man had tuned the piano to itself (very common) but it didn't match the notes on his organ which is tuned by a tone generator onboard the B-3. The sound check went on as well as colud be without the piano. "The tuner returned and had to tune to notes on the B-3 organ being played by Danny Federici. The crowd started to take their seats while he was finishing up. When he finished he stood up and bowed to the audience who gave him big round of applause". "We actually started the show on time", said Albee. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-09-30 - PRITCHARD GYMNASIUM, STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY, STONY BROOK, NY**

No set details known. One show, held in the Pritchard Gymnasium, with Bruce and the band the only act on the bill. Even though admission was free for students of the school the concert was not a sellout. A brief report the following day in the school’s newspaper mentions that one of Springsteen’s acoustic guitars had been stolen at this gig and requests its return. Albee Tellone reported that he always brought along his own personal acoustic guitar which happened to be the same model Bruce had. They were placed in the dressing room side by side, but only Bruce's was taken. Probably because he had a newer case for it. Bruce used Albee's guitar for the remainder of the year until Mike Appel bought him a new one for Christmas.


 * 1973-10-06 - VILLANOVA FIELD HOUSE, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY, VILLANOVA, PA**

Pre-show jam: PEACEFUL EASY FEELING

No set details known. One show, double bill, held in the Villanova Field House, with Springsteen and band co-headlining with Jackson Browne, two future Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame members on the same bill for a mere $4 admission fee! Springsteen opened and Jackson Browne closed, but both gave headliner length 90-minute performances. Once alluded to by Browne in interview as "a truly magical night", this show was also referred to in Springsteen’s speech inducting Browne into the Hall Of Fame. Incredibly there was no post-concert review of this concert in Villanova's school newspaper, but the event was considered a "financial success" by the Villanova Union. Albee Tellone has noted that before this show Springsteen and Browne jammed together, with Springsteen playing The Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling".


 * 1973-10-13 - KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL, WASHINGTON, DC**

Cancelled Springsteen concert, never rescheduled. Originally planned as one show, in the 500-seat Concert Hall, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. This Columbia Records-organized affair was promoted in the Washington Post (see the advertisement linked above) a week prior to the event, advertised as a 'Special National Preview Performance' of the forthcoming //The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle// album, which was still three weeks (November 5) away from public release. The show was cancelled on the very day of the event, with a notice being placed in the Washington Post informing people of ticket refund details. The notice doesn’t state why the show was cancelled. Tour Sound Manager Albee Tellone confirmed this show’s cancellation.


 * 1973-10-15 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, 9:30pm, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Show was approximately two hours in duration and consisted of either two or three sets with an intermission between each set.


 * 1973-10-16 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, 9:30pm, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Show was approximately two hours in duration and consisted of either two or three sets with an intermission between each set.


 * 1973-10-17 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, 9:30pm, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Show was approximately two hours in duration and consisted of either two or three sets with an intermission between each set. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-10-18 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, 9:30pm, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Show was approximately two hours in duration and consisted of either two or three sets with an intermission between each set. Both this and the following evening's show were late additions to the tour itinerary.


 * 1973-10-19 - UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT, BRIDGEPORT, CT**

Cancelled show. This date was listed in the 'Campus Dates' section of Billboard magazine, October 6, 1973. Two shows were scheduled to take place at the University of Bridgeport in 1973 - it seems likely that both were cancelled.


 * 1973-10-19 - OLIVER'S, BOSTON, MA**

No set details known. One show, 9:30pm, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Show was approximately two hours in duration and consisted of either two or three sets with an intermission between each set. Both this and the previous evening's show were late additions to the tour itinerary.


 * 1973-10-20 - FRANKLIN PIERCE COLLEGE, RINDGE, NH**

4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / ZERO AND BLIND TERRY / SOMETHING YOU GOT / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / THUNDERCRACK

One show with Bruce and the band the sole act on the bill. Bruce's first ever appearance in New Hampshire. The 11-song setlist above is a recollection of an attendee and would seem to represent the complete gig. A brief snippet of information on a blog, by an unidentified blogger, suggests that this show was held during a snowstorm and was attended by only around 50 fans. Some sources list two extra songs at the end of the set, "Mama Don't All No Guitar Picking" and "Call On Me". The latter may be the 1963 song by blues and soul singer Bobby "Blue" Bland, but it is far more likely to actually be "634-5789", which Springsteen was regularly playing around this time.

There is no known audio recording of any of this show.


 * 1973-10-26 - GENEVA THEATRE, GENEVA, NY**

NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.) / FOR YOU / THUNDERCRACK / TWIST AND SHOUT

One show, double bill with Bruce and the boys headlining and The James Montgomery Band opening. Booked for a fee of $2,000 by the nearby Hobart & William Smith College. The College had originally contracted John Sebastian as the sole act for this evening, but he cancelled a couple of weeks before the gig and the Student Concert Committee was able to procure both Springsteen and Montgomery's services for the same price. Montgomery opened with a 60-minute, Chicago blues-dominated set. Apparently Bruce and the band arrived late in an old black station wagon, roaring down an alley beside the theatre. Springsteen's show lasted 90 minutes and included a triple encore, finishing with "Twist And Shout". Partial setlist above gathered from various sources that attended the show, including Tom.


 * 1973-10-29 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No setlist details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen headlining and local acoustic trio Wire And Wood opening. The opening of a three-night (six-show) residency at the club.


 * 1973-10-30 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

Late (second) show: 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / THE E STREET SHUFFLE (with Albee Tellone) / GROWIN' UP / WALKING THE DOG / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / LOST IN THE FLOOD / FOR YOU / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.)

Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and local acoustic trio Wire And Wood opening. The above-mentioned setlist is the complete twelve-song, second (late) show, as articulated by John Baumgartner in a detailed review in the November 7 edition of //The Villanovan//. Albee "Albany Al" Tellone (baritone sax) performed on "The E Street Shuffle”. Richard Blackwell was also a guest on congas at this gig. Bruce played piano on one song, "Spirit In The Night", and ended the main set with a full band version of "For You". "Blinded By The Light" and "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)" were the two encores.

There is no known audio from this show.


 * 1973-10-31 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

Late (second) show: 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (7:47) / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE (11:42) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (4:45) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? (3:41) / THE E STREET SHUFFLE - HAVING A PARTY (with Albee Tellone, 4:34) / GROWIN' UP (start cut, 2:45) / WALKING THE DOG (8:58) / FOR YOU (4:23) / LOST IN THE FLOOD (7:34) / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY (3:34) / ZERO AND BLIND TERRY (6:09) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (6:09) / THUNDERCRACK (end cut, 4:14)

Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and acoustic trio Wire And Wood opening. Halloween night. This setlist is similar to the previous night's gig, but with slightly different song sequencing in the second half of the show. "Zero And Blind Terry" and "Thundercrack" were added for this show but the previous night's "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)" was dropped. "For You" is the full band version. Albee "Albany Al" Tellone guests on baritone sax on "The E Street Shuffle".

The above-mentioned thirteen-song setlist is culled from a circulating audience tape of fair to good quality that is believed to be the second (late) show. The two 'cut' tracks (noted above) are not circulating complete. The CD 'Before The Flood' (CU) has the entire show except for "Thundercrack".


 * 1973-11-03 - PUTNAM GYMNASIUM, RICKER COLLEGE, HOULTON, ME**

No set details known. Bruce's first ever appearance in Maine. One show, a co-headlining double bill held in the school's Putnam Gymnasium, with Springsteen and band opening and Orleans closing. Springsteen and John Hall, the leader of Orleans, had often performed with their respective bands on the same bill at the Café Wha? in New York City in late 1967 (see listings). Bruce and the band arrived in a mini-bus in the afternoon and were given a walking tour of the campus by students in the Ricker Concert Committee. Ed Malloy, chair of the College's social board organised Springsteen's appearance, and writes: "Late that afternoon with sound checks going on, a guy walks up to me and asks, 'Where does the Springsteen band set up?' I ask if he's the road manager. He says, 'No, man, I'm Bruce.' Forever embarrassed, I show him to their dressing room (the girls locker room - girls not included). Frank Wingate is shooting hoops with Clarence Clemons and Scott Berry is getting him loaded. At Showtime, Orleans comes out cooking and wins the crowd over. I'm in the wings dancing and grinning. Bruce walks up beside me with his guitar slung over his back and starts dancing as well. He points to the The Raunchy Bunch in front of the stage - they're in full swing. He shouts over to me "Good band" I nod and smile in time and say 'yeah'. He comes right up to the side of my face and says "we're going to blow them away". If you were there you know he backed that up and them some. In a December 2006 Washington Post interview John Hall (now a U.S. Congressman) recalled this gig and jokingly commented: “Bruce was supposed to play for 45 minutes…he played for two hours and 45 minutes”.

The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle//, Springsteen's second album, is released on November 5, 1973. However, the album receives very little press - there were no advertisements in the trades, no release party. The band weren't even sure when the album was going to hit the stores.//


 * 1973-11-06 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Daryl Hall & John Oates opening. Opening of a five-night (ten-show) residency at the club. Although originally booked for three nights, two additional nights were added to the itinerary. Hall & Oates performed for about 45 minutes at each show, with Springsteen performing for about 90 minutes. Albany Al Tellone continued his brief one or two song guest appearance at some (probably all) of these ten shows. A Brucebase reader who attended reports "Hall & Oates were not well received by the partisan Springsteen crowds." A short review of one of the Max's shows that included Hall and Oates appeared in the Billboard November 24, 1973. The only song mentioned specifically was "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)". Click the link above to read it. Brucebase has placed the review under this date, although the show described could be any of the ten that Springsteen played in this stand.

"Lost In The Flood" from one of the Max's Kansas City shows in 1973 was in the video reel at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame exhibition. This would have been shot in black and white with a single camera by Barry Rebo, similar to the Max's Kansas City footage from 1972. This video could be from any of the Max's shows in 1973, either July or November. It is perhaps more likely to be November, given that we have no record of any "Lost In The Flood" performances in or around July '73.


 * 1973-11-07 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Hall & Oates opening. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-11-08 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Hall & Oates opening. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-11-09 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Hall & Oates opening.


 * 1973-11-10 - MAX'S KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and Hall & Oates opening. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-11-11 - KENDALL HALL, TRENTON STATE COLLEGE, EWING, NJ**

WALKING THE DOG / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE E STREET SHUFFLE (with Albee Tellone) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / I WANT YOU / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.) / THUNDERCRACK / TWIST AND SHOUT

One show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. An article in the college newspaper indicates that David Bromberg was originally scheduled to headline this show but opted out after being informed that Springsteen was going to open the show. Bromberg was aware of the difficulty in following Bruce. Brian Auger probably wished he'd been aware too, as the vast majority of the 1,500 strong full house in Kendall Hall left after Bruce's performance. Seven of the eight songs listed above were mentioned as having been performed at this concert in a school newspaper review that followed. The other (Dylan's "I Want You") is a recollection of John Sciarappa, who was present at this show. If accurate, this brings back the performing history of the song by nearly a year - with the next recorded performance in November 1974, at Philadelphia's Tower Theater. Given that Bruce was the opening act this setlist is likely to represent nearly the entire show, with perhaps only one or two songs undocumented.

There is no circulating audio from this show.


 * 1973-11-14 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and rock band Truth opening (for this night only).


 * 1973-11-15 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and comic James Wesley Jackson opening. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-11-16 - MY FATHER'S PLACE, ROSLYN, NY**

No set details known. Two shows, double billing, with Springsteen and band headlining and comic James Wesley Jackson opening. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-11-17 - ROXY THEATRE, PHILADELPHIA, PA**

WALKING THE DOG / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / THE E STREET SHUFFLE - HAVING A PARTY (with Albee Tellone) / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.) / FOR YOU / THUNDERCRACK / TWIST AND SHOUT

Two shows, with Springsteen and band headlining. Two or three local bands (names unverified) acted as the undercards. This was an unusual show structure, as the first show took place during the day but the second show was not until much later in the evening. It is likely that the second show is the source of the circulating audience recording. It should be noted that these shows were held at the Roxy Theatre in the Manayunk neighbourhood of Philadelphia, and not the same venue as the more well-known, up-market Roxy Theatre ten miles away in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. The theatre was on the corner of Ridge and Leverington Ave, and was knocked down in 1981. A Dunkin' Donuts currently sits on the site of the Theatre. Advanced ticket sales were slow, which necessitated Bruce plugging the gig the previous three nights at his My Father's Place residency. Bruce can be heard twice thanking the crowd for traveling to (in Bruce's words) "this God-forsaken place" to support him. Albee Tellone guests on baritone sax on "The E Street Shuffle", as he did during most of the September-December 1973 gigs. "For You" is the solo piano version. "Thundercrack" includes an exceptionally long band-introduction segment. Click the link above to view photographs of the show taken by Art Reilly.

The above-mentioned setlist is taken from an audience recording of only fair sound quality, although slightly better during the slower songs. This audio has continuity (there was no set break intermission) and captures the complete eleven-song, 90-minute performance. "You Mean So Much To Me" is cut and missing its final two minutes. Audience tape of average quality available via the CDR 'Electric Surges Free'.


 * 1973-11-25 - CURRY HICKS CAGE, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST, MA**

WALKING THE DOG / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / KITTY’S BACK / THUNDERCRACK / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, U.S.A.)

One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band opening for British blues godfather John Mayall. This was a two-night booking for headliner Mayall, with Springsteen on the undercard the first night and Maria Muldaur on the bill the following night. Interestingly 30% of the seats for the Springsteen show remained unsold but the show with Boston-based Muldaur was a quick sell-out.

The above-mentioned setlist is culled from a 70-minute audience recording and is not available on any mainstream boot. The sound is very muddy and the overall quality is only fair. Fortunately the audio has continuity and, at 70 minutes, is likely to represent Bruce’s complete performance as the opening act. Includes the earliest definitively-dated "Kitty's Back", although an earlier version (probably from the summer of 1973 based on lyrical variations) entered circulation in 2017 on the 'Odds & Sods' collection.


 * 1973-11-30 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA**

Due to last minute venue/contractual difficulties at VCU, this concert was postponed and rescheduled to January 25, 1974 at The Mosque. This concert was to have featured Springsteen headlining and Goose Creek Symphony as the opener and, indeed, this was the lineup that performed at the January 25, 1974 show. It's likely that the concert was planned to be held in the VCU Gym, but we have no publicity or stubs to prove this. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-12-01 - QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY, HAMDEN, CT**

Cancelled by Springsteen the day of the show. It was intended to be a single show, double bill, with Springsteen and band (as they’d done the previous week at University of Massachusetts) opening for John Mayall. Bruce was a $1500 contract, Mayall was paid extra to play an additional set. The school’s Yearbook includes several photos of Mayall’s performance. Thanks to Jeff Wood for the information.


 * 1973-12-06 - CHILDE HAROLD, WASHINGTON, DC**

WALKING THE DOG (10:25) / FOR YOU (9:56) / THE E STREET SHUFFLE - HAVING A PARTY (with Albee Tellone, 7:02) / KITTY'S BACK (9:45)

One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. A more than two-hour performance that involved three 45-minute sets with an intermission between each.

A proportion of this night's total show (audio evidence suggests it was the evening's final set) was broadcast on the radio by Georgetown University's WGTB-FM. The above-mentioned partial setlist is from the only known circulating portions of this rare broadcast. This audio emanates from a source that taped it off the airways, not the station's original tape. Consequently the sound quality is very good, but not brilliant. "For You" is the solo piano version. Albany Al Tellone guests on "The E Street Shuffle". The four above-mentioned tracks can be found on the CD 'Play The Tuba And Run'. Two other tracks included on this CD are not (as claimed) from this show, or even this venue. These involve an audience recording of "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" (from an-as-yet-unidentified location, not Childe Harold) and an incomplete soundboard recording of "Let The Four Winds Blow" (from January 6, 1974 at Joe's Place). This same audience recording of "Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?" can be found on the CDs 'The Inner View' or 'The Bruce Springsteen Collection, Volume 2'.


 * 1973-12-07 - CHILDE HAROLD, WASHINGTON, DC**

No setlist details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. A more than two-hour performance that involved three 45-minute sets with an intermission between each.


 * 1973-12-08 - CHILDE HAROLD, WASHINGTON, DC**

No setlist details known. One show, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. A more than two-hour performance that involved three 45-minute sets with an intermission between each. The upcoming events section of the October 13, 1973 //Phoenix Arizona Republic// indicates that Springsteen was scheduled to play Phoenix's Celebrity Theatre on December 8 in support of Roger McGuinn. Presumably at some point this performance was cancelled.


 * 1973-12-14 - PINECREST COUNTRY CLUB, SHELTON, CT**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. This gig has been rumored as having been cancelled. However senior management at Pinecrest (who were there in 1973) have positively confirmed that it took place. A local area band (name undocumented) opened the show. This was a hastily organized booking, with little time available for pre-concert advertising and promotion. Consequently only about 200 tickets were sold (the venue held over 600). A 90-minute performance by Bruce. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-12-15 - NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE, GARDEN CITY, NY**

4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / WALKING THE DOG / THUNDERCRACK / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)

No other set details known. Some or all of this show was filmed in black and white by Barry Rebo. The first two tracks above (the opening pairing) were shown by Thom Zimny at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame discussion in June 2009. "New York City Serenade" was also shown to the public at "An Evening With Thom Zimny" at Monmouth University on September 23, 2014. Two brief snippets of "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" (with audio) can also be seen in the documentary //Bruce Springsteen: In His Own Words//, which was first broadcast in December 2016 on Channel 4 in the UK. Short clips have also been seen in various promotional videos, and in the //Wings For Wheels// documentary on the //Born To Run 30th Anniversary Edition// box set, most notably showing Dave Sancious during "New York City Serenade". Peter Ames Carlin goes into some detail about this show in chapter 11 of //Bruce//, listing three other songs, "Spirit In The Night", "Walking The Dog", and "Thundercrack". Carlin even transcribes some of Springsteen's spoken introductions as well as describing the events on stage, suggesting he had the opportunity to view Rebo's footage. The final song listed above, "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", is courtesy of an attendee.


 * 1973-12-16 - SHABOO, WILLIMANTIC, CT**

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. Originally scheduled as one show, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. Shaboo was a now-legendary watering hole that catered for students at nearby Eastern Connecticut University. A student at the school in December 1973 has commented to Brucebase “I didn’t attend Shaboo that night but my dorm room-mate went and I seem to recall him returning later that evening and telling me that Springsteen hadn’t showed up!” The show’s cancellation has been corroborated in comments by former Shaboo owner/manager David Foster, who has stated that Springsteen’s camp phoned and cancelled only a day or two before the scheduled appearance. Springsteen also cancelled his April 1973 show at the same venue.


 * 1973-12-17 - STUDENT PRINCE, ASBURY PARK, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. Opening of a three-night (three-show) residency, Bruce's first formal advertised appearance at the club since December 1971. A long, more than two-hour show.


 * 1973-12-18 - STUDENT PRINCE, ASBURY PARK, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. A long, more than two-hour show. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-12-19 - STUDENT PRINCE, ASBURY PARK, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with Bruce and the boys the sole act on the bill. A long, more than two hour show.


 * 1973-12-20 - BRISTOL MOTOR INN, BRISTOL, RI**

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)

One show, with Bruce and the boys the only act on the bill. Unusual show in that it was an official Roger Williams University school event but it was held off campus, inside the nightclub of the Bristol Motor Inn. This was an 100-minute show. Partial setlist above comes from a newspaper review of the performance. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" is likely to have been performed at many of the gigs in this December Christmas period.


 * 1973-12-21 - SANDY'S, BEVERLY, MA**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with Springsteen and band headlining and The Bill Colwell Band opening. Sandy's, located in an outer north shore suburb of Boston, was a small, rock-orientated club that had opened in early '73. The only known promotion and ad for this gig (in the December 15 edition of //The Boston Real Paper//) carries the unique billing of 'Bruce Springsteen and his studio musicians', indicating the club wanted people to know that this was going to be rock show, not a solo performance.


 * 1973-12-22 - UNCLE AL'S ERLTON THEATRE LOUNGE, CHERRY HILL, NJ**

No set details known. One show, triple bill, with Springsteen and band headlining. Undercards were local bands Uproar (who opened) and Moxie (who played second). Both local bands were performing a week-long residency at the club but Springsteen was a special, last minute addition to this night's itinerary. Both local groups played for about an hour. Springsteen took the stage just before midnight and performed for about two hours.


 * 1973-12-23 - ROVA FARM FUNCTION CENTER, JACKSON, NJ**

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

One show, triple bill, headlined by Springsteen and band. Some confusion reigned in the weeks leading up to this event, with Springsteen at first billed, then pulling out of the event, then finally back on the bill. One of the two undercard groups was Doo Dah (led by George Theiss, Springsteen’s former bandmate in The Castiles). By all accounts a pretty wild affair, with the admission fee including food and all the beer one could drink! The show started late due to technical problems. About half way into Springsteen’s set he played "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", only to have a serious brawl erupt in the audience during the song. Consequently the police became embroiled and the promoters had to do some fast talking to get the police to let the show continue. Rova Farm was not a "farm", but a congregation center operated by the local Russian Orthodox community. This show, sometimes listed as being held outdoors, was definitely indoors, as you would expect in the middle of winter.


 * 1973-12-27 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. Opening of a four-night (eight-show) residency.


 * 1973-12-28 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-12-29 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1973-12-30 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA**

No set details known. Two shows, with Springsteen and band the sole act on the bill.

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